A discussion on two celebrated examples of application of linear regression

TL;DR

This paper offers a detailed analysis of two classic datasets using linear regression, providing new insights into their applications and interpretations in astronomical and biological contexts.

Contribution

It presents a comparative perspective on linear regression analysis applied to historical datasets from astronomy and genetics.

Findings

Reveals the effectiveness of linear regression in historical data analysis

Provides interpretative insights into galaxy distances and human stature data

Highlights limitations and considerations in applying linear regression to these datasets

Abstract

This work aims at providing some (further) perspective into the analysis of two well-known datasets in terms of the methods of linear regression. The first set has been taken from Hubble's 1929 investigation of the relation between the distances of galaxies and their recessional velocities. The second set relates to Galton's family data on human stature, collected for the purposes of his 1889 book on natural inheritance.